Receptacle holder



Nov. 15, 1960 A. E. HUNTER RECEPTACLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1955 il l R. m m Q 1w. M f W Qluwl A//s A rropA/EY Nov. 15, 1960 A. E. HUNTER RECEPTACLE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1955 INVENTOR.

.u fx E. #aN/'EQ BY United States Patent O RECEPTACLE HOLDER Alex E. Hunter, 2713 Pyramid Ave., Pittsburgh 27, Pa.

Filed Oct. 20, 1955, Ser. No. 541,606

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-121) This invention relates to a receptacle holder and relates more particularly to a novel arrangement of a foldable and portable tray holder.

One object of my invention is to provide a tray holder which is easy to set up and which does not require a solid supporting structure for attachment thereto when in use.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a tray holder having a bottom supporting member adapted to utilize a portion of the users weight for the purpose of holding it in a rm position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a foldable and portable tray holder of simplified construction comprising a minimum number of parts.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a compact portable tray holder onto which a receptacle such as a tray can easily be attached and held in firm position while in use.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation incorporating features of the invention and showing the folded tray holder in dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the movable jaw assembly with attached tray (cut away view of tray).

Figure 3 is a side elevation as Figure 2 but showing the movable jaw :assembly in open position.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation showing certain features of the movable jaw assembly 'and features of the hinging arrangement in dot and dash lines. l

Figure 5 is a detailed view of the hinging feature taken from the inner side of the upright members shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the movable jaw assembly.

Figure 7 is `a front elevation of the invention showing Va modification of my tray holder.

.Figure 8 is a side elevation of Figure 7 showing the modiiied member for engaging the rim of `a tray. The dot and dash lines indicate the Operation of the modified member.

Similar numerals of reference denote like parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

Referring to Figures l through 5, numeral 1 denotes a flat bottom member for supporting the apparatus in upright position. One end of this support is provided with brackets 2 and 3 as shown in Figure 4. Brackets 2. and 3 can be rigidly iixed to the bottom-member such in Figure 5 and forms part of the hinging assembly.

The bracket indicated by 3 (see Figure 4) is provided .withanut and bolt 8 .as shown.4 A .pair of spring' steel upright 'supports 6 and 7 are hingedly fixed `to brackets 2 and 3 form the hinging assembly of thebotto'm M p .Y y ysupport member 1; they also Vsupportl ther movable jaw FigurefZ shows' the movable jaw/*assembly holdin the jaw assembly of my tray holder. ya pair of Leshaped members of flat metal joined to the frice assembly yas will be described hereinafter. Springy steel upright support 6 connects with vertical slot 5 as shown in Figure 5 to lock the apparatus in upright position.

Brackets 2 and 3 (see Figure 4) are provided with holes for nut and bolt 8 and lug 9. Spring steel upright member 7 is likewise provided with a hole for nut and bolt 8. Lug 9 is iixed to spring steel member 6 such as by welding and connects bracket 2 to it through its hole. (See Figure 4.)

The upper mechanism of spring steel upright support members 6 and 7 comprise the movable jaw assembly of my tray holder and constitute the preferred embodiment. In Figures l and 4 numeral 11 denotes a channel which is formed of metal such as aluminum or steel and is adapted to secure spring steel upright supports 6 and 7 by means of a pair of nuts and bolts 12 vand 13 on either side of the channel respectively. The spring steel upright supports and channel are provided with holes to receive the nut and bolt arrangement. The channel can obviously be secured to spring steel upright supports by other means, for example welding. It is also possible to machine an integral unit of this section. The arrangement of my invention, however, is simple and can be easily set up in the manner described. In the actual embodiment of my invention I have provided a pair of stop members 14 interposed on either side of channel 11 and on the outer side of spring steel upright supports 6 and 7 as shown in Figures l, 3 and 4. Stop members 14 are constructed of a iiat piece of metal having one edge resting flat against channel 11 and are rigidly fixed by nut and bolt pairs 12 and 13 to channel 11, and spring steel upright members 6 and 7. The upper edge of stop members 14 are fixed so that they are flush with a horizontal groove or recess 16 on aluminum or steel channel 11. The stop members and the recess in channel 11 form rests or shoulders 17. The construction of rest members 14, recess 16, and shoulders 17, is arranged to cooperate with the movable jaw assembly in holding a receptacle such as a tray.

In Figures 4 and 6 numeral 18 indicates `a vertical slot on channel 11 which extends downwardly to approximately half of the length of the channel. This vertical slot is centered on the channel and is opened at the top to engage and cooperate with Va member of the movable jaw assembly to be shown hereinafter. l

Figures l .through 4 and 6 demonstrate the movable Numeral 21 indicates rear of channel 11 such as by welding or Screws and adapted to receive a handle 22 between them which is 'p'ivotallyxed by pin 23 to them as shown. Handle. 22

is curved as at 24 for clearance only and provides a pivot or cam surface against channel` 11. The curvature of handle 22 terminates as a short round end 25 which is provided with a hole to receive a pin 26 onto which spring steel link 27 is arranged as demonstrated in Figures l', V2- and f3. The spring vsteel link is attached tov a pair of parallel movable arms 28 by pin and pin sleeve vsecured inside of channel 11.

Movable arms 2,8.are aligned above rest members 14 and are attachedtothe channel by a pin and pin sleeve 30. It shouldibe noted Vthatvm'ovable arms 28 are composed of iiat piecesnof Ametal which are slightly curvedat the lower end- 31.in order tofiit evenly against rest members'14 as. at.15 jlf dseired, the two movable arm members can be join'ed by a third pin and lpin sleeve 32 as 'shown in Figures. l,

The tray holder and tray are then supported firmly by 1) the Weight of the user, and (2) by the mo'vable jaw assembly respectively. When the tray is used in moving vehicles such as trains, a feature of my invention is that the bottom support member takes advantage of the cushioning effect of the seat and thus dampens vibrations. Furthermore, the tray is adapted to be supported in a position convenient for serving food and is held in this position by the user sitting on the at supporting member.

My tray holder can hold any standard tray or any specially built tray and when the tray holder isnot in use it may be conveniently folded into a small package for ease in storing.

Other advantages of my tray holder are that it is sturdy, durable, light Weight and requires only a fraction of the space per person that would be required by use of the conventional table.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred embodiments shown it will be understood that modications may be made within the scope of the invention as deiined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A tray support comprising an upright member having two parallel, spaced members, a tray, a movable jaw assembly including spring means for yieldingly clamping and locking ari edge portion of said tray on said upright member so as to lock it in a substantially horizontal position at right angles to said upright member, a base of thin, at material having one end secured to the bottom of said upright member at right angles thereto, and underlying said tray, said base being of insucient gauge and size to provide -a steady support for said tray, particularly when food is supported thereon, and requiring part of the users Weight thereon to provide a stable support for said upright member and tray, the spacing between said base and tray being greater than the Width of the leg of an average person so as to permit sitting on said base to apply part of the users weight thereon.

2. A tray support as recited in claim 1 wherein said base is substantially rectangular, a pair of brackets mounted on said base on which said upright member is pivotally mounted, one of said'brackets including a vertical slot for holding said upright member vertically.

3. A tray support as recited in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw assembly comprises a handle, a resilient link `attached to said handle, and a movable arm adapted to lock said tray, said movable arm being actuated by said resilient link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,758 Shaw Dec. 24, 1

725,458 Levy Apr. 14, 1903 870,038 Knapp Nov. 5, 1907 1,409,255 Smith Mar. 14, 1922 1,618,493 Thiele Feb. 22, 1927 1,952,605 Pearson Mar. 27, 1934 2,134,823 Hermann et al Nov. 1, 1938 2,165,322 Weston July 11, 1939 2,427,603 Higgins Sept. 16, 1947 2,540,546 Puzt Feb. 6, 1951 2,556,615 De Vaughn June 12, 1951 2,677,518 Happy et al May 4, 1954 2,708,557 Clark May 17, 1955 

